Packing for fragile articles



Dec. 19, 1933. M, KQPPELMAN 1,940,596

PACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES I Filed April 11, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR' .A'ITORIQEY Dec. 19, 1933. M. KOPPELMAN PACKING FOR FRAGILEARTICLES Filed April 11, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY 1933-M. KOPPELMAN PACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Filed April 11, 19334Sheets-$heet 3 ATTORNEY- Dec. 19, 1933. M'. KOPPELMAN PACKING FORFRAGILE ARTICLES Filed April 11, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR a fc-rlo ATTORNEY suction felting process in which forms having tended andpressure when compressed, due to the fe'ring substantially in size,dimensions and con- Patentecl Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlPACKING FOR FRAGILE ARTICLES Morris Koppelman, Brooklyn, N. Y.,Application April 11, 1933. Serial No. 665,485 19 Claims. (01.229-87)The improvements relate primarily to the packing of fragile articles,including glassware, china, porcelain, bottles and other containers, ofvarious shapes and sizes, also to articles of any breakable material orof relatively frail construction, but they may be used for any purposeto which they are adaptable.

Packing made in accordance with the improvements is intended to be usedin place of excelsior or the like, corrugated paper, tissue or otherpaper, felted pads and other packing material. Its objects are, amongothers, to provide a highly eiiicient packing for various uses in. placeof such i other packing, which can, be made by a simple process ofmanufacture ofpaper or wood pulp or similar raw material, preferably bythe pulpor more sheets for shorter articles.

conical or similar form and form to receive the article. case, however,the jacket or wrapping position enclosing the former will cause the theshape and contourof the finished article are passed through a bath ofloose fibres with suction behind the forms to draw the fibres againstthem and form a coating thereon which when removed and dried becomes thefinished packing; to increase the strength and protective properties ofpacking of this general type and its adaptability to various sizes andshapes of packed articles; to reduce the cost of manufacture, and tomake the application of the packing to the article easier, simpler andmore accurate.

The embodiment of the improvements contemplates a packing manufacturedin continuous extensible, contractible sheets having therein numerousplaits, folds or the like which are elastic and will exert tension whenstretched -or exto contract and prevent the pered toward one end andprovided offsets, the first ger-like holding position inside againstshocks and jars at its ends.

necessary to make special shapes or size, shape or contour of thearticle character of the material and the form of the plaits made ofsuch material and composing the packing sheets. These sheets may be madesubstantially flat in form or of conical or other shape. When made flat,they are adapted to be cut to the desired length and formed into hollowcones, cylinders and other shapes by uniting their ends transversely, orthey may be molded to the shape desired and used in their molded form,or inverted or turned inside out to produce the form and shape desired.For the packing of articles of widely different shapes and sizes anumber of units may be employed, but each unit will accommodate itselfto numerous articles difitself to various sizes, a few packing units maytire set of china,

The improvements are companying drawings, in whichbottles and the like;

packing sheet molded substantially tour. Where the sheets made flat andjoined to gether at their ends are used they may be first cut todifferent lengths to give different interior diameters, and such sheetsmay be made of different widths to accommodate articles of greatlydiffering lengths, or a sheet of a given width may packing shown in Fig.

Figs. 1 and 3;

' Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section be cut longitudinally to a lesserwidth different sizes andshapes may be made,

or into two Where the units are molded complete in endless, conical orother convex form, they may be used as taken from the pulp mold or die,or molded in concave inverted to convex In each and every packing willform an elastic which will maintain itself in the article and hold thearticle in position therein by its own resiliency,'due to the fact thatthe article packed will exceed in circumference the normal internalcircumference of the packing unit, so that when forced therein latter tostretch or expanel and grip the said article. The packing is alsopreferably made with the plaits-or folds more or less curved lengthwise,so that its ends when it is applied to the article will have a. tendencyarticle from escaping therefrom. The plaits are also in most cases taatthe other end, or at both ends, with inwardly projecting feature beingadapted to make the unit more yieldable at one end for the insertion ofthe article and the second to provide fin members to retain the thepacking unit and protect it article in While many it is not sizes forordinary articles or groups of articles, as it is not essential that thepacking shall follow closely the owing to its pack an enone unit takingcups, saucers, and small plates, and another bowls, teapots, vege- Thus,also the 95 same unit may be employed for bottles of round, square,elliptical, and other cross section.

illustrated in the acflat;

' Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal section of the 1 with a bottletherein; Fig. 4 is a bottom end view of the-packing of Fig. 5 is a topend view of the same;

on the lines elasticity and resulting ability to accommodate shapes andcontours. Thus Fig. 1 is an elevation of a packing embodying theimprovements adapted for the packing of Fig. 2 is a perspective view ofa portion of a of each plait is thicker, as'shown at 2.

6--6 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows in thatfigure;

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 3 looking inthe direction indicated by the arrows in that figure;

Fig. 8 is a bottom end view of the packing of Fig. 1 applied to a bottlehaving a substantially shown therein, the said articles and packingbeing stacked and partly nested;

Fig. 12 is an elevation of a packing similar to that of Fig. 11 as it isapplied to bowls and various other articles of like general shape;

Fig. 13 is a vertical medial section of a packing similar to that shownin Fig. 12 applied to a cup;

Fig. 14 is a detached plaited portion of a packing unit embodying theimprovements; and

Fig. 15 is a top perspective view of a packing embodying theimprovements molded and adapted to be inverted to produce a conical formsimilar to that of Figure 11.

The packing unitshown in Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive, is substantiallyidentical, but may have such variations in dimensions,shape and detailsas may be considered necessary or advisable to better adapt it tovariations in the articles to be packed, although this is not essential,as it will receive and securely hold and protect not only the particulararticles illustrated but many others differing from them substantially.This unit consists of a series of plaits or folds 1 of fibrous sheetmaterial. The sheet material, however, is not first formed and thenfolded or plaited but is molded in substantially the form shown,preferably by the method known as the pulp sucking process, in whichwire mesh or other foraminous forms are immersed in a bath,

containing wood pulp or other suitable fibres, while suction is exertedon one side of the mold orform to draw the fibres in the bath againstthem and form a substantial coating thereon, after which the form, withthe coating thereon, is removed from the bath and the coating taken oil.the form and dried. When the sheet thus formed is removed from theforming dies, and while it is still in a wet and plastic state, thefolds may be pressed together if desired to contract them and make theplaits sharper or more acute, 'or they may be stretched to some extentif such stretching is considered desirable for the particular use towhich the packing is to be put. In the illustrated fragment of thepacking of Fig. 2, the fibre bath side is the upper side and theforaminous form side the lower side. It will be observed that the angleor fold at the bottom This results in a strengthening of the fold and anincreased tendency to return to its normal state, and may be produced byincreasingthe area of the suction openings in the form along these linesor in any other desired manner. The formation of the sheets in thismanner produces a felted article in which the fibres are superposed andengage with one another in various positions, but in substantially theirnormal state, so that the sheet when thus formed is a sheet which thefelted fibres are in normal position when the sheet is plaited as shown,and therefore tend always to give the sheet strength and resiliency anda constant tendency to return to its normal position when contracted orstretched.

The plaits or elastic ribs 1 are preferably tapered from one end to theother and provided with indentations or flattened portions 3, 3 on theirinner edges. They also have inward projections 4 at one end, and mayhave projections 5 of similar character at the opposite end as in Fig.14, for the purpose of holding the articles packed therein andprotecting them against injury by pressure or shocks directed againsttheir ends. These projections may have various forms, such variationsbein shown at 3 in Fig. 3, '7 in Fig. 12, and 8 in Fi s. 10, 11, 13 and14, and one or both ends may be inwardly turned on a curve of smallradius as shown at 9 in Fig. 10.

The packing units shown in Figs. 11 to 13 are substantially the same,and one rib or plait thereof is shown in detail in Fig. 14. In Fig. 11small plates or saucers are shown packed in this unit. This isaccomplished by pressing the article into the unit, thereby causing itto spread from a position similar to that shown in Fig. 13 to asufficient diameter to receive the article, which is held therein by thetendency of the unit to return to its normal position and the engagementof the periphery of the article with the angular extensions 8. Anydesired number of relatively flat articles may be stacked and partlynested in their packing units. A packing unit of the size illustrated inFig. 12 will receive and hold plates of much greater diameter, and alsobowls, vegetable dishes and teapots, whether they be circular,elliptical or of other form in cross section. The cup-holding unit shownin Fig. 13 is adapted to hold not only cups, saucers and small plates,but such other articles as may be placed therein and confined by theinwardly projecting members 8. In the uses shown in Figs. 11 and 13, andin all similar uses, the spreading of the upper edges of the unitsurrounding its mouth and through which the article is inserted, causesa contraction and turning in of the lower edges, so that the article isgripped not only by the tendency of the plaits to contract laterally butby a certain pressure exerted by the contracted lower ends.

In Fig. 15 a method of molding units such as those shown in Figs. 11 to14, inclusive, is shown. In this method the unit is molded in reversedor inverted form, and after being molded is turned inside out to theform shown in the said figures, which form it will constantly tend tomaintain in use. The units of the said figures may also be moldedsubstantially as shown in Fig. 13. This method of molding avoids thenecessity of forming the unit by taking a fiat sheet, such as that shownin Fig. 2, bending it' into cylindrical or conical form and uniting theabutting edges. These abutting edges when a unit is made of a fiat sheetmay be joined by stitching, pasting, stapling or interlocking. Thejoined ends or edges of the sheets are indicated at 10 in Figs. 8 and 9.

Whether the sheets of which the units are formed are molded as shown inFig. 2 or as shown in Figs. 13 and 15, they may be stacked and nestedfor shipping and storage, so that they will occupy a minimum of space,when not in use.

As most articles to' be packed have curved outlines, and it is desirablein all cases to have asclose a contact as possible near the ends of theother shipping containers packing unit the plaits or elastic ribs of thesaid units are usually curved to a greater or lesser extent from end toend, so that the normal diameter of the finished unit is greater at itsmiddle portion than at its ends. The ribs may also have any otherdesired contour and may be made of various sizes to meet conditions ofuse. They may also be made of any suitable material and by anysatisfactory method, the method and material herein described beingmerely considered the most suitable for the purpose. Other modificationsin the form material and method of manufacture may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

The term offset as employed in the claims contained herein refers to anydeviation from a straight line whether it be gradual, as in the case ofa curve, or whether it be abrupt as in the case of a pronounced angulardivergence. It is understood that any departure from a straight line isembraced Within this term in the claims.

The packing of the present improvements is peculiar and has many usesand advantages. It will be seen that it requires no wrapping -or tieingbut holds itself in position and holds the article packed without theaid' of any other means or instrumentality; that it exerts constantpressure on the article packed by its resiliency and its tendency at alltimes to return to normal position; that each unit will accommodate,hold and protect a variety of articles, and that it can be made infinished condition for use by a simple pulp molding operation, withoutthe use of tools, machinery or labor. It can also be made in varioussizes and shapes, while retaining all the peculiar characteristics andadvantages just mentioned.

The packing saves labor, permits the employment of unskilled labor evenin the packing of the most costly fragile articles and preventsbreakage. It also economizes space and permits the packing of sets orlots in smaller cases or In packing individual articles in the units itis only necessary to insert each article in its packing unit by pressingit through the opening in one end thereof and into the interior andpermitting the packing to close on it and to contract its said openingso that it is securely enclosed and held. When a shipping case is packedthe separate articles are first inserted in their individual packingunits and these units with the articles in them then placed in the casein close contact with one another.

Another advantage resides in the fact that articles once placed in theunits-need no other packing in their passage from maker to ultimateconsumer or user through wholesalers, distributors or other middlemenand retailers, and that they can be removed for examination and replacedby any person of ordinary intelligence, and can be carried or otherwisetransported even by careless persons without danger of breakage.

What I claim is:

1. A packing unit comprising a sheet of material having a series ofuniform folds or plaits, said plaits having a series of integral plaitsor projections of greater depth than the first named plaits and hingemeans in different planes uniting plaits of each series.

2. In an unbroken plaited packing sheet, means for engaging an articlefor holding it relative to the plaits comprising a plurality ofprojections 'in juxtaposition extending between opposite sides of thesheet, said plaits, along their longitudinal axes, being constructed inbent form in a manner to produce an offset in the sheet before itsapplication to an article, so that when the sheet is made into a packingor protecting jacket it will conform at least partly to the shape of anarticle to be received therein.

4. A fluted packing unit made of flexible but relatively resistantmaterial comprising a sheet of fibrous material having a series ofplaits in juxtaposition extending between opposite sides of the sheet,said plaits, along their longitudinal axes, being constructed in bentform in a manner to produce an offset in the sheet before itsapplication to an article, said plaits having laterally extendingprojections adjacent one end of the plaits, so that when the sheet ismade'into a packing or protecting jacket it will conform at least partlyto the shape of -an article to be received therein and will hold itselfthereon.

5. A fluted packing unit made of flexible but relatively resistantmaterial comprising a sheet of fibrous material having a series ofplaits in juxtaposition extending between opposite sides of the sheet,said plaits, along their longitudinal axes. being constructed in bentform in a manner to produce an offset in the sheet before itsapplication to an article, said plaits having a series of laterallyextending projections adjacent each end of the plaits, so that when thesheet is made into a packing or protecting jacket it v will conform atleast partly to the shape of an article to be received therein and willhold itself thereon.

6. A fluted packing unit made of flexible but relatively resistantmaterial comprising a sheet molded from fibrous material having portionsof its entire area provided with molded plaits extending betweenopposite sides of the sheet, said plaits having portions preformed inbent shape in a direction along their longitudinal axes and in suchmanner as to offset the sheet out of a single plane, whereby the sheet,when made. into a jacket-like wrapper, will conform generally to theshape of an article to be received therein.

'7. A fluted packing unit made of yieldable material comprising a sheetmolded from fibrous material having a series of juxtaposed plaitsextending between opposite sides thereof, said plaits being preformed inirregular contour in the direction of their longitudinal axes so as toproduce an offset in the sheet before its application to an article, sothat the plaits will conform at least partly to the shape of an articleto be packed when the sheet is made into a wrapper.

8. A molded paper pulp packing unit comprising'a sheet of yieldable pulpmaterial having a series of juxtaposed plaits running from one side ofthe unit to the opposite side, said plaits being molded in curved formin a direction longitudinally of the plaits, and in such manner 'as tooffset the sheet out of a single plane.

9. A molded paper pulp packing unit comprising a sheet of yieldable pulpmaterial having amolded projections extending beyond the plane of theplaits.

10. A fluted packing unit made of yieldable pulp material comprising asheet having a series of juxtaposed plaits extending from one side to anopposite side, the edge lines of the plaits at one side of the sheetbeing substantially greater in their total length than the edge lines atthe other side of the sheet.

11. A fluted packing unit made of flexible but relatively resistantmaterial comprising a sheet having substantially its entire areaprovided with plaits extending from one side to an opposite side, theedge lines of the plaits at one side of the sheet being substantiallygreater in their total length than the edge lines at the other side ofthe sheet.

12. A fluted packing unit made of yieldable pulp material comprising asheet having a series of juxtaposed plaits extending from one side to anopposite side, said plaits having a bent shape in the direction of theirlongitudinal axes, the edge lines of the plaits at one side of the sheetbeing substantially greater in their total length than the edge lines atthe other side of the sheet.

13. A fluted packing unit made of yieldable pulp material comprising asheet having a series of juxtaposed plaits extending from one side to anopposite side, said plaits being formed deeper at one side than at theother side, the edge lines '01 the plaits at one side of the sheet beingsubstantially greater in their total length than the edge lines at theother side of the sheet.

14. A fluted packing unit made of yieldable pulp material comprising asheet having a series of juxtaposed plaits extending from one side to anopposite side, said plaits having an arcuate shape in the direction oftheir longitudinal axes and being formed deeper at one side than at theother side, the edge lines of the plaits at one side of the sheet beingsubstantially greater in their total length than the edge lines at theother side of the sheet.

15. A fluted packing unit made of flexible and relatively resistantfibrous material comprising a sheet having a series of juxtaposed plaitsextending from one side to an opposite side, said plaits, in thedirection of their longitudinal axes, being curved from one side of thesheet toward the opposite side and said plaits being correspondinglygraduated in depth from one side toward the opposite side, the edgelines of the plaits at one side of the sheet being substantially greaterin their total length than the edge lines at the other side of thesheet.

16. A fluted packing unit made of yieldable pulp material comprising asheet having a series of juxtaposed plaits extending from one side to anopposite side, said plaits having laterally extending projectionsadjacent one end of the plaits, the edge lines of the plaits at one sideof the sheet being substantially greater in their total length than theedge lines at the other side of the sheet.

17. A fluted packing unit made of yieldable pulp material comprising asheet having a series of juxtaposed plaits extending from one side to anopposite side, said plaits having an arcuate shape in the direction oftheir longitudinal axes, and having laterally extending projectionsadjacent one end of the plaits, the edge lines of the plaits at one sideof the sheet being substantially greater in their total. length than theedge lines at the other side of the sheet.

18. A plaited packing unit in the form of a hollow sleevelike jacketformed of flexible relatively resistant fibrous material, said jackethaving a series of juxtaposed plaits provided around the jacket andextending from one end to an opposite end of the jacket, the plaits atone end having an inward arcuate shape in the direction,

of their longitudinal axes and the edge lines of the plaits at one endof the jacket being substantially greater in their total length than theedge lines at the other end of the jacket whereby plaits at one end ofthe sleeve member, said second series of plaits being offset inwardlybeyond the inner limits of the first named plaits whereby a plaitedannulus is formed of less diameter than the sleeve member for providingan enclosure for an end edge of an article packed within the sleevemember.

MORRIS KOPPELMAN.

